svetikya Page 39
Page 39
"We've already spoken to the weekly magazine, and this issue has been temporarily shelved." A middle-aged man with a receding hairline, sitting to the left of Kazuko Sakurajima, was the company's legal director, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"However, the other party is asking for a very high price. Moreover, this is just the beginning; we have no idea how many photos they have. Ms. Kazuko, this matter must be resolved as soon as possible."
Kazuko Sakurajima pinched the bridge of her nose. She hadn't expected that the boy named Yuto Itsuka would still be so clueless after receiving a lawyer's letter and such a large sum of money.
"What's going on with Yuto Itsuka's side?"
"No, he doesn't answer the phone or reply to emails." The Minister of Justice shook his head. "We sent people to his apartment, but we couldn't find him. It's like he's vanished into thin air."
“Where could a high school student possibly disappear to?” Kazuko Sakurajima sneered, but a sense of unease rose within her. She felt that things were slipping out of her control.
Just then, there was a knock on the conference room door.
Her assistant poked her head in, her expression somewhat strange: "Miss Kazuko, the front desk downstairs said... a young man named Itsuka Yuto has arrived and wants to see you."
Everyone in the conference room looked at each other in bewilderment.
What kind of operation is this? A lamb entering a tiger's den? Dan Yue—clothes, wine, lacquer, wine, shouting, three-pronged sword—attending the meeting?
A fierce glint flashed in Kazuko Sakurajima's eyes: "Let him come up!"
A few minutes later, Yuto Itsuka was led into the conference room.
He glanced around the conference room at the various adults in suits, their expressions varied, but his expression remained unchanged. He even gave them a polite nod.
"Good evening, everyone. Sorry to bother you." He spoke in a clear, youthful voice.
Kazuko Sakurajima's gaze fell on him: "Itsuka-kun, you've got some nerve."
"It's alright." Itsuka Yuto smiled, and seeing that no one was going to get him a chair, he pulled up an empty chair himself and sat down.
"I mainly feel that some things are much more efficient to communicate face-to-face than through letters or taking photos secretly."
He placed a file folder on the table and pushed it in front of Kazuko Sakurajima.
"what is this?"
“Some interesting information.” Yuto Itsuka gestured for her to take a look. “Aunt Sakurajima, and everyone else, please take a look.”
Kazuko Sakurajima suspiciously opened the file bag and pulled out a few sheets of paper.
The first page is a screenshot of an old forum post called "Mai-chan's Guardian Association" that Itsuka Yuto printed out. The post has a red box highlighting the part about seven-year-old Sakurajima Mai crying on a variety show because her kitten got lost.
The second page contains an abstract of an academic paper titled "Performative Personality and Emotional Isolation: An Analysis of the Impact of Childhood Trauma on the Mental Health of Adolescent Artists".
Although the article does not name names, the case described is almost identical to, if not exactly the same as, Mai Sakurajima's situation.
Page three, page four... and so on, it's all similar stuff.
There are medical reports on affective disorders, research on adolescent mental health development, and even several interviews on how to cultivate an "actor with soul," with interviewees being internationally renowned performing artists.
……
……
[P.S.: I asked an expert, and it seems that you can't write out the process.]
I didn't write out the process either...
[Has anyone read chapter 46? Does this count as an emperor?]
Volume 1: Chapter 50: Three parts destiny, seven parts hard work (Part 2) (Part 9) (Part 1) (Part 38)
The meeting room was completely silent, save for the sound of papers turning.
The Minister of Justice's expression grew increasingly grim, while the other senior executives looked completely bewildered, utterly clueless about what this high school student was up to.
"What are you trying to say by showing us these?" Kazuko Sakurajima finally spoke.
"What I'm trying to say is... everyone here is incredibly stupid." Itsuka Yuto leaned forward slightly, crossed his hands on the table, and looked directly at Sakurajima Kazuko.
"You have destroyed your most valuable asset in the most foolish way."
"presumptuous!"
"How dare you!" an executive slammed his hand on the table and stood up.
Yuto Itsuka didn't even lift his eyelids, and continued, "Why did Mai semi-retire? Haven't you thought about that?"
"Or do you think that by suppressing and threatening her as before, you can turn her back into a national idol?"
"Actually, I was very surprised when Aunt Sakurajima came to my door and said those things a couple of days ago."
Aren't our goals aligned?
"Could you please pour me a glass of water? Thank you. My throat is a little dry," Yuto Itsuka said to a balding man of unknown identity standing next to him.
The Mediterranean man glanced at Sakurajima Kazuko, and after receiving a signal, he obediently went to pour a glass of water.
After clearing his throat, Yuto Itsuka continued, "You want Mai to return to being a national idol, and I want Mai to rediscover her feelings. Is there a conflict between these two things?"
"It's more accurate to say that their goals are completely aligned."
"Or do you think your previous training methods were correct?"
"I can only say that, whether from real-life experience, the certification of industry professionals, or from a medical perspective, a person who has lost their soul and emotions can never portray a character with flesh and blood."
Yuto Itsuka's words were powerful and resounding, and many people in the meeting room even lowered their heads to think.
Finally, Yuto Itsuka offered his price: "I am helping Mai regain her emotions. I can promise you that once she successfully regains her emotions, I will leave Mai and never appear in front of her again."
Now, everyone except Kazuko Sakurajima began to ponder.
What this kid said seems to make some sense?
Within their company, there were actually differing opinions regarding whether or not to provide Mai Sakurajima with "emotional detachment" training.
However, on the one hand, as the president of the company, Kazuko Sakurajima had too much power and could make decisions directly; on the other hand, she was Mai Sakurajima's mother, and in the end, the matter was settled.
Kazuko Sakurajima finally spoke, sneering, "Help? With your irresponsible, childish dating games?"
Even though she was somewhat shaken when she said those words, she was still able to say them.
Yuto Itsuka nodded: "That's right, through this kind of dating game."
"A Mai Sakurajima who understands love and being loved, a Mai Sakurajima with a complete personality—when she returns to the screen, the energy she can unleash will far exceed your imagination."
He paused, leaned back in his chair, and his tone became more relaxed:
"Of course, you can also choose another path."
“Keep forcing me in your own way, with money, with threats, with those underhanded methods. I surrender with my hands up. I definitely can’t resist, after all, my parents are divorced, and I have no money or power.” He spread his hands.
"You will definitely succeed in getting me away from her, but then what?"
"You will end up with a completely heartbroken Mai Sakurajima, an empty shell with no light in her eyes. At that point, how much commercial value do you think she will have left? Your meticulously crafted perfect work will ultimately become a defective product that no one will want."
His words struck like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of everyone in the conference room hard.
“As for those photos…” Yuto Itsuka looked at the Minister of Justice and smiled.
"To be honest, it doesn't really pose any threat to me. It's more likely to affect Mai, right? Of course, you can try it if you want. I don't care."
The Minister of Justice's face had turned a deep purplish-red. He felt that his pride in legal deterrence and media manipulation were completely useless against this teenager.
"The choice is yours." Itsuka Yuto stood up and straightened his clothes.
"You have three days to decide whether to choose a real actor who could become a legend, or to stick with a puppet that's about to be scrapped. Oh, by the way..."
He walked to the door, turned around, flashed a bright white smile, and gave a thumbs up. "Mai and I are going on vacation for the next three days. Any disturbance will be considered as you choosing the latter."
After saying that, he opened the door and strode away in front of everyone.
……
Regardless of the subsequent reactions from the agency and Mai's mother.
On the train back, Yuto Itsuka leaned against the window, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
The more arrogant he was in the conference room, the more uncertain he felt inside.
That explanation is three parts speculation and seven parts bluffing; it has absolutely no basis in reality.
First, explain that the goals of both parties are not conflicting to reduce hostility. Then, from the perspective of the other party's interests, tell them that doing so is in their best interest.
Finally, he presented his conditions and sincerity—he would leave Mai after completing this task.
If they believe his point of view is correct—that helping Mai Sakurajima regain her emotions will help her return to the big screen—then there is a high probability that they will agree to his conditions.
He was betting on the profit-seeking nature of these businessmen and their complete ignorance of Mai Sakurajima's true situation.
Of course, that's what he really thought; he believed that acting had to be based on genuine emotions.
His desire to help Mai rediscover her emotions was entirely selfless.
To be honest, he even considered using Mai to threaten them in return, telling them that if they dared to continue bothering him, he would make Mai retire completely and never have the thought of returning to the screen again.
I'll just think about it.
That would be going too far.
But after all, in this simulated world, he had no money, no power, no superpowers, and no one called Kotori Itsuka "Mom," so it was obviously wishful thinking to confront capital head-on.
in case……
My phone vibrated; it was a LINE message from Mai Sakurajima.
Mai: Are you back?
"Who's more handsome than me? On their way."
Mai: Mom...Is the company giving you a hard time?
"Who's more handsome than me? Nobody. I talked to them about it, and they seemed to listen."
"Who's more handsome than me? Oh, right, pack your bags, we're going somewhere tomorrow."
Mai: Where are you going?
"Who's more handsome than me: Go somewhere... where you can find the key."
……
Book 1: Chapter 51: Searching for the Little Girl from the Past
The next morning, Yuto Itsuka took Mai Sakurajima on the train to Kamakura.
That's where Mai Sakurajima spent her childhood.
After gaining fame, Kazuko Sakurajima moved away with her to further her career.
Instead of visiting the famous tourist attractions, the two wandered through the quiet residential area based on Mai Sakurajima's vague memories.
The salty, damp scent of the sea breeze wafted through the old streets, over the ivy-covered walls, and past the creaking bicycles...
“I remember… there should be a small park up ahead,” Mai Sakurajima said, pointing to an intersection, somewhat uncertainly.
"Then go have a look."
The park is small, with only a swing and a slide. The facilities are old and some are even rusty.
Several elementary school students were chasing and playing around on the side.
Mai Sakurajima stood in front of the swing, remaining silent for a long time.
"Want to play?" Yuto Itsuka asked.
She shook her head, then nodded.
Yuto Itsuki laughed and pressed her onto the swing, while he stood behind her and gently pushed her back.
As the swing rose higher and higher, her long black hair was tossed about by the wind, like dandelion fluff balls scattered by the wind.
“I used to come here alone often,” she said softly.
“My mom is very busy and doesn’t have time to spend with me. So I sit here from noon until dark, waiting for her to come back.”
Yuto Itsuka didn't say anything, but simply increased the force of his push.
He wanted to push her higher, high enough for her to see that above that lonely childhood sky, there was now another landscape she could rely on.
They spent the afternoon strolling around, visiting the elementary school she used to attend, buying two ballpoint pens at the stationery store near the school gate that she frequented, and also buying red bean dumplings at an old-fashioned pastry shop that had been open for decades.